Disney's California Adventure

By SEDONA DING

When I went to bed last night, I had no idea what a fun day today would be. But then again, neither did my parents, at first. They realized late last night that they had to use their Disney "2fer" tickets at California Adventure park by June 29, and well, the only day they could make it happen was today!

So, voila! Here we are California Adventure!

We didn't have that much time waiting on a Tuesday afternoon in the many short lines, in this case our first serious ride: Mickey's Fun (ferris) Wheel.

Maven wasn't scared at all. She was looking down and trying to escape from the hatch almost the entire time.

Maven showed her true California-girl self ... as if surfing is easy!

I went twice on this rocket ride, first with Mommy and then with Daddy in Rocket No. 3. Where's my mouth? Anyway, while I was on the rocket ride ...

... Maven was scooting around, bending down and helping herself to snacks stored in the bottom area of the stroller.

There is a really fun section of California Adventure called "A Bug's Land" that was perfect for pint-sized people such as me.

The whole family went on Flik's Flyer and Francis' Ladybug Boogie. The ladybugs spinning like teacups on a spinning platform was my favorite because it was "bumpy." But Daddy said the spinning made him nauseous.

Tuck and Roll's Drive 'Em Buggies ... I was torn on whether I wanted to bump other cars. Daddy suggested I try it and decide, and I agreed. I tried it and told him: "No, no. Just drive." I did very well holding the wheel steady so we could circle the outer area smoothly.

After we met Minnie Mouse outside, we ended with maybe my favorite event, Playhouse Disney Live. My favorite characters from "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse," "Handy Manny" and "Little Einsteins" were live on stage, starting with Mickey Mouse popping out of the floor. It was incredible. You can see me in brown, standing up and participating while Donald is on stage. He was the one I told Daddy that I wanted to see most!

Thanks, Daddy & Mommy, for a fun time (even though I did ask at the end why Dora wasn't there)!

June has been fun and filled

By MAGGIE WANG

Yes, there has been a lack of updates this month but it's not for a lack of doing anything eventful. It has actually been a packed month with lots of playdates and parties, although mostly without Kevin and/or camera documentation.

The day after Disneyland, 5/31: Kevin and I brought the girls to Janna Immel's 5th birthday party at My Gym (sorry, no pics).

Tuesday, 6/2: My friends Kathy & Bruce -- who are even better friends since they became my clients! -- came over with their boys Zack and Luke to have sushi together and show us what a disaster area one's house becomes with boys running around! It is entirely possible that Zack and Luke felt right at home because Kathy is already planning for them to marry Sedona and Maven!

Saturday, 6/6: Whitney and I brought the girls to the Palos Verdes Festival (sorry, no pics) while our husbands worked. The girls had a fabulous time on a canoe and bee ride.

Sunday, 6/7: We started the day at twins Bosch and Charlie's party at Robert E. Ryan Park before heading over to Siena's super-cool bowling party (again, no pics of either party). It was Sedona's first time bowling.

While Kevin was in Orlando for Games 3, 4 and 5 of the Lakers' NBA Finals, my parents came to help out ... and there is pic of that!

My parents brought yummy lamb chops, which our meat-lover Maven enjoyed to the bone!

The week of June 8th was the last week of Mommy & Me class (for Maven).

Here is a picture of Maven's class at Tot Lot in Manhattan Beach. Who's that kid lurking on the side, slipping into our group photo?! It's party-crasher Sedona Ding, who did sort of hesitantly amble up into the photo of this class wherein she didn't belong.

We have met lots of nice and fun people in this class but particularly Jenni Tucker and her daughters Hailey and Landry.

Landry and Maven are about 7 weeks apart, but Landry's parents are very tall!

Sedona and Hailey are 6 months apart.

Hailey is currently at Manhattan Montessori, which is the school Sedona will be attending in the fall. It's coming pretty soon!

Jenni's husband is a firefighter, so he is often gone from his family overnight. Jenni and I can bond when the hubbies are gone. She and her kids came over on Saturday, 6/13, for some face painting, fun bouncing and Thai food.

Wednesday, 6/11: The Watts family (Raychel is Sedona's pal) seemed to feel sorry for me with Kevin out of town, and we had a great dinner together.

Sunday, 6/14: We had an impromptu playdate with Raychel, her little sis Charlotte and Riley. All the girls piled into the bathtub, and we did snap some photos that probably aren't ideal for posting here.

We basically occupied a lot of our free time with playdates at parks and friends' homes. It finally started to subside last week with the Lakers winning the championship in Orlando on Sunday, 6/21, and ending the season. Go, Lakers!

Kevin's first day off to start the offseason was Saturday (6/27), which was packed day. It started with twins Natalie & Bryce's birthday party at the Southern California Live Steamer train followed by a family Father's Day celebration at Kristen & Mitch's house (and bummer, we forgot the camera). Sedona didn't have her preferred "ladybug" floatie, so she was a little timid but nevertheless wound up wanting to stay in their swimming pool long after everyone else had had enough. Maven showed no fear in there, apparently believing she could swim with no problem.

On actual Father's Day Sunday, Kevin spent time with his daughters while I worked all day. Then they joined me at Yamato for sushi dinner with my family. Sedona was thrilled to end her day with some of Kevin's almond milk tea with boba and some of my mom's Pinkberry.

This month has been filled with a lot of fun and hard work -- but it's also the start of an exciting summer.

And given it is Father's Day this month, I want to give a shout-out to my daughters' amazing daddy. I tell him this, but I think it should be documented that he is truly a great dad. He is super engaging and present in our girls' lives. They totally love and adore him. I thought he would be a great father, but he has completely exceeded my expectations.

I believe a woman ultimately chooses her husband based on the love, support and strength that her father gives her -- to which I say thank you to my daddy for showing me the love I deserve from a man ... so I then wound up with Kevin. And I can rest assured that my girls will be adored by their future husbands based on their father's love.

"Happy Birthday, Daddy! Now take me to Disneyland!"

By SEDONA DING

Let me start by thanking the Lakers for winning the Western Conference finals in six games so that Daddy could take me to Disneyland on his birthday Saturday!

Disney has a promotion where people get in FREE on their birthdays ... and then Maven and I are not yet 3 years old so we are FREE. That makes the trip very cost-effective when we only had to pay $69 for Mommy (and she gets two trips for that; same as Daddy got).

While Daddy was on the plane coming home from Denver in the early morning, Mommy decorated me to wish Daddy a happy birthday!

Can you believe he is 38?! Daddy said that while he was on the plane home, he was reflecting on his 38 years, and he feels proud of his accomplishments, including us! Isn't that sweet?!

Here are his primary accomplishments!!! We just walked into the park and here they go and stop me to pose in front of the flowers. I did as I was told, but I wanted to know where to find "Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy and Pluto." I see them all regularly on the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse cartoon show and know all their names.

Oh, Tigger! I know him from reading some Winnie the Pooh books. But up close, I'm a bit afraid of these life-size creatures, which I'm told is quite common.

Daddy and Maven huddled while waiting for the carousel. It was one of my favorites! I loved going up and down, up and down!

Then Daddy and I went on the Dumbo ride of flying elephants, and even the waiting was exciting as Daddy asked me which Dumbo we would try to get. They all had different colored hats and blankets on them. I changed my mind many, many times but settled on pink.

We got the pink one! Good job, Daddy. And here we are flying!!!

Orange County resident Austin Lev came to the park to meet us, and given I'm the unofficial big sis, I thought I'd fix up his hair to be a little more stylish. Or maybe I was just rubbing his head for no good reason. Either way!

YAY! Finally after all those rides and quite some time waiting (when Maven pretty much drained Mommy's and Daddy's last ounces of energy  by trying to scurry every which way by wandering out of line), I got to meet Mickey Mouse! Daddy had talked to me in advance, and I'd told him I wouldn't be scared, but I was. So later that night, several times I said out of the blue to Daddy that I had met Mickey Mouse, but I was "a little scared." Daddy said it was OK and it would be better next time.

We finally end the day at Autotopia (based on recommendation from my friend T.L.), and I absolutely LOVED it!!!

What an exhausting day! Daddy was functioning on 1 1/2 hours and Mommy on four hours of sleep. But who cares about them? (I did let them stop in Garden Grove on the way home for crawfish anyway.) I had a great time!

Thanks and happy birthday, Daddy! Let's go to Disneyland for your birthday every year!

Memorial Day Weekend at Fiesta Hermosa

By MAGGIE WANG

Another holiday without the husband ... the story of our lives in this household ...

Kevin was in Denver for the Western Conference finals (Lakers vs. Nuggets) all of Memorial Day weekend. The Lakers won back at home tonight, so they're in the lead, 3-2, in the series.

With Kevin gone, we spent quality girl time in Hermosa Beach at my favorite event of the year - Fiesta Hermosa! It comes for Memorial Day and Labor Day, and each time it gets better and better as Sedona is able to appreciate it more and more.

I brought the girls down Saturday with Jimmy, Rosana and Ronin (sorry, no photo documentation), and then we headed back down again Monday with Alice A-ma & Toshi A-gong.

Sedona had a blast buying a new pig bath towel and purple ballet outfit, along with enjoying the fun rides.

Maven was eagerly watching. Next year, she'll be able to join Sedona on most everything.

Sedona gave Maven a shout-out here.

Sedona got on the $5 pony ride that lasted about two minutes. A complete rip-off, but she loved it while it was going.

Maven was again eagerly watching.

During our walk along the beach on the way home, we stopped for some happy grand-family photos ...

Sedona was happy playing in the sand a little bit.

Maven did her own thing for a while, enjoying Toshi A-gong's company.

Look at that scenic background, we are so lucky. That is our beach! I can't believe how fortunate we are to live in such an amazing city.

I couldn't resist ... I had to put up three of these pictures of them together. So cute! I adore these girls.

All the gals. ... This photo makes it apparent that Sedona looks like my mom & me despite what anyone else says.

Overall, it was an exhausting weekend but a fabulous one in which I got to spend a lot of time with the girls. I've been really busy with work, so it was much-needed time with them.

As the Lakers' season continues and I am sometimes frustrated with Kevin working so hard, I also remember that we are so fortunate. We both have great jobs doing what we love -- and making a difference in people's lives. We both get to spend really quality time with our girls, even though we work so much (and lack some sleep).

I love Hermosa Beach and look forward to the Labor Day Fiesta Hermosa.

Maven-Austin Playdate

By MAVEN DING

Before Daddy left town for Denver and Games 3 and 4 of the Western Conference finals, we had a playdate with Austin Lev. I really, really like this little guy, but I'm not sure he likes how much I crawl all over him. 

It is true that I'm much more physical than Sedona, but I'm going to blame her for this stuff with Austin. Sedona and I are always wrestling and giggling about it, so I assume other people like it too!

We look forward to more playdates with the Lev family this summer at the beach.

"Why is the ground shaking?"

By MAGGIE WANG

An earthquake was felt throughout our home tonight. It was the worst one I've ever felt since moving here, which makes sense since it was based only miles away from our home. (See below for official data.)

 Sunday, May 17, 2009 at 08:39:36 PM at epicenter with a magnitude of 4.7, located within these distances ...
1 km (1 miles) ESE (104°) from Lennox, CA
2 km (1 miles) N (9°) from Hawthorne, CA
2 km (1 miles) S (177°) from Inglewood, CA
16 km (10 miles) SW (215°) from Los Angeles Civic Center, CA

Sedona was still awake when it happened, watching her one pre-sleep TV show with Kevin. When he felt the quake and some things began falling off our shelves, he scooped Sedona up and began to seek shelter, but it was a brief rumble. Maven was already asleep and didn't seem to awaken.

Sedona soon asked, "What was that?" and then followed up with "Why is the ground shaking?"

Our family photo shoot

By MAGGIE WANG

I've been wanting to get professional shots of the family for quite some time, so when this opportunity came along, we jumped at it.

Natalie Young took the headshots for all my real-estate promotional material, and I think she did a great job capturing my personality. I'm really glad we went to the trouble of coordinating this shoot for all four of us before an afternoon Lakers game. Check out these selected images and let me know what you think!